Folding pole.



- H. T. RATZLAPP.

FOLDING POLE. uruouron mum we. 14,1906.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908.

HENRY T. RATZLAFF, OF ODESSA, WASHINGTON.

FOLDING POLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908.

Application filed August 14, 1906. Serial No. 330,594.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY T. RATZLAFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Odessa, in the county of Lincoln and State of Washington, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Poles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in folding pole mechanism and more particularly to folding ten foot poles used by carpenters, the object being to provide a pole which is very simple and cheap in construction, and one which can be folded up so as to be readily carried in a tool box.

Another object of. my invention is to pro vide the sections with very simple and effective locking means so that they can be securely locked together in an extended position without any danger of them coming unfastened when in use, and easily and quickly unlocked when it is desired to fold the sections.

With these objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved pole folded. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the pole locked into an opened position. Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the pole opened. Fig. 4 is a detail longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 5 is a section taken on lines 55 of Fig. 4. F ig'. 6 is a detail perspective view of an end portion of one of the pole sections. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the other end of one of the pole sections.

Referring to the drawing A indicates my improved folding pole composed of the graduated sections A, A A and A pivotally connected together at their ends by rivets B, the section A being pivoted on the section A the section A on the section A and the section A on the section A so that when the sections are folded up they will rest one upon the other. The sections A, A and A are provided with transverse grooves having central recesses formed therein, adjacent their pivoted ends on their faces, in which are secured plates C by screws, provided with openings corresponding with the recesses formed in the transverse grooves.

Longitudinal grooves are formed in the underside of the sections A ,-A and A, at

their ends in which are secured flat springs D, which extends out beyond the ends of the sections and are provided with bowed portions D adapted to fit in the openings of the plates C and recesses, when the sections are opened and swung into alinement with each other, and securely lock the sections in this position. It will be readily seen that by pressing upwardly on the ends of the springs D, the bowed portions will be drawn out of the recesses and openings in the plates so that the sections can be folded up.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the kind described, a plurality of overlapping pivoted sections, said sections turning one upon another, a recess formed in the overlapping portion of one of said sections, a bowed spring secured upon the other section, the bow portion of the spring resting in the recess, and the free end of the said spring projecting beyond the section to which it is connected.

2. In a device of the kind described overlapping sections pivoted together, a recess formed in one of said sections, said recess being partially covered by the end of the other section, a spring having one end set in the inner face of the last mentioned section, the intermediate portion of said spring extending into the recess and the free end of the spring projecting therefrom.

3. A device of the kind described comprising a plurality of overlapping sections pivoted together, spring locking means carried by a portion of said sections, and recesses formed in other sections for the purpose of receiving said locking means, the intermediate sections being provided with recesses adjacent one end and with locking means adjacent their other ends.

4. A device of the kind described comprising a plurality of intermediate and end sections pivoted together, each intermediate section being provided with a recess upon one side adjacent one end, a bowed spring carried by the opposite end and upon the opposite side of said intermediate section, and projecting beyond the end of the same, the bow portion of said spring resting in a recess formed in an adjacent section.

HENRY T. RATZLAFF.

Witnesses:

RoY E. TRANTUM, O. F. CROWLEY. 

